What IELTS score do you need for the University of Derby?

These course pages were read on 8 October 2026; none gives a PTE score. Duolingo appears only on the online iPGCE page, a distance course, not on Derby's main list of tests. Derby also says that if you studied in a majority English-speaking country you may not need a formal English qualification.

Derby's India page accepts English from three boards for undergraduate entry and says it will not accept medium of instruction evidence; other boards and a postgraduate school-English route are not mentioned. The Pakistan page says the same about MOI evidence and lists IELTS only. Its Africa page accepts WAEC for Nigeria. School routes for Nepal and Bangladesh, and NECO as English evidence, are not stated by Derby.

Derby's CAS page asks for at least £8,000 of first-year fees as a deposit before a CAS request, with a short video interview on CAS Shield if you are required to have one. For January 2027 the last day to pay the deposit is 16 November 2026. Its refund policy keeps the deposit when UKVI refuses a visa after a credibility interview.

Derby's online pre-sessional course runs 12, 8 or 5 weeks (£3,740, £2,470 or £1,350 in 2026/27). For a 6.0 degree, entry is from IELTS 4.5 (4.0), 5.0 (4.5) or 5.5 (5.0); for 6.5, from 5.0 (4.5), 5.5 (5.0) or 6.0 (5.0). Passing means you progress to your degree. Derby asks for UKVI IELTS for a CAS for its pre-sessional and foundation courses.

For a Student visa, UK Visas and Immigration asks for English at CEFR B2 for degree-level study and B1 below degree level, per gov.uk. At degree level, gov.uk adds, your university can assess your English itself and may ask you to take a different test.

Requirements vary by programme and change between admissions cycles. The score that binds you is the one on your Derby programme page and in your offer letter, so check it there before you book a test.